362 HABITS AND INSTINCTS OP ANIMALS. CHAP. XI. 



though it is less vivid than before ; and, if bruised and 

 rubbed over the hands and face, they become luminous 

 in the dark, like a board smeared with English phos- 

 phorus.* Nevertheless, it is somewhat remarkable, that, 

 in the whole extent of our travels in the wilds of Bra- 

 zil, entomology being our chief object, we not only 

 never captured the Fulgora lanternaria, but we never 

 witnessed any other luminous insects than a few of the 

 Elater noctilucens, occasionally sparkling in the woods. 

 Fulgora lanternaria, although found in Brazil, is either 

 excessively rare in that empire, or is confined to par- 

 ticular localities. 



(364.) The great majority of luminous animals, 

 however, are marine, and chiefly belong to the Radiata, 

 or pulpy animals. Among these is the genus Pyrosoma, 

 described and figured in a valuable French work.t It 

 is said to present a highly luminous appearance when 

 in motion, passing through all the colours of a bar of 

 red-hot iron, till, at length, it becomes of what is termed 

 a white heat ; after which it again passes into the co- 

 lour of red-hot iron, and, from that, gradually declines 

 into its original greenish hue. The length is that of 

 several inches, and its diameter about a fourth or fifth 

 of its length. It is found in some particular parts of 

 the Atlantic, where it is seen in great multitudes.! 

 The Noctiluca marina, or night-shining Nereis, fre- 

 quently illuminates the sea with a light superior to that 

 emitted by the glow-worm. " While rowing at night," 

 observes Pennant, " I have seen the whole element as 

 if on fire around me ; every oar spangled with them 

 the water shining with more than ordinary brightness. 

 I have taken up some of the water in a bucket, seen 

 them for a short space illuminate the whole, and then 

 disappear." This beautiful sight, indeed, may be wit- 

 nessed by almost every one who is out at sea, on our 

 own coasts, during summer; although its appearance 

 is irregular. 



* Nat. Hist, of Guiana, p. 44. 



f Annales du Museum Nationale d'Histoire Naturelle. 



J ZooL Lect. vol. ii. p. 126. 



